Metropolitan Museum Announces Change in Recommended Admission Prices Effective with New Fiscal Year, July 1, 2011

The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced today that, effective July 1, for reasons of economic necessity, the price of museum admission will rise to a recommended $25 for adults, $17 for seniors and $12 for students. The rates are currently $20, $15, and $10, respectively. This marks the first admissions increase in five years.

The Museum pointed out that admission to the Met will continue to be free to all children under 12 years of age, as well as to student groups from all New York City schools that reserve their visits in advance. In addition, the museum’s longstanding policy of including all special exhibitions free with the purchase of a general museum admission will continue unchanged. The Museum’s Education Department will also continue to provide free meeting space and facilitate workshops for the City’s Department of Education and curriculum specialists.

Commented Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum: "We are sensitive to our visitors, from both around the city and around the world, for whom rising costs in all sectors create a constant challenge. But like other New York institutions, the Met faces a number of daunting, ongoing budgetary challenges of its own. We are committed to the study and preservation of our exceptional collection, as well as to ensuring the best experience for our millions of visitors. But we can only pursue these goals by generating diverse and dependable revenue streams to support our activities.

“As with many not-for-profit institutions, the fundraising environment and other revenue streams continue to pose challenges in this current economic climate. In particular, income from our endowment has flattened, the average visitor contribution at the door is lower, and public sector operating support has fallen. Since the average cost to the Museum of each visitor is $40, we believe it is fair and, above all, necessary, to increase recommended admission levels at this time.”

Added Mr. Campbell: “It is important to note that the Met will continue to offer some 30 special exhibitions a year at no extra cost to visitors—with no additional purchase or ticket required. And while we will continue urging our visitors to be as generous as possible at the gate, it is also crucial to remember that the general admission to the Met will remain ’recommended,’ even at new rates. In that light, the Met remains not only the biggest museum in the country, but also the biggest bargain in town.”

Over the previous 15 years, the Metropolitan has increased admissions, on average, every three years (1996, 1999, 2002, and 2005). Prior to establishing the new recommended admission rates that will go into effect on July 1, adult and student rates have remained unchanged for five years, since 2006, and the senior rate, unchanged since 2007.